Richard Petty's 1988 Daytona 500 wreck was one for the ages

Richard Petty will likely never forget the 1988 Daytona 500, the first race of the NASCAR restrictor-plate era which had the entire field of drivers on edge.

GODWIN KELLYMOTORSPORTS EDITOR

It's not uncommon for drivers to be on edge before the start of a race. But the 42 guys who strapped into their cars for the 1988 Daytona 500 probably had a few extra butterflies in their stomachs. The '88 500 was the first race of the NASCAR restrictor-plate era, and there was concern that the horsepower-robbing plates would bunch up the field and increase the likelihood of wrecks. Just past the halfway point of the 200-lap run, Richard Petty – the sport's biggest name – was swept up in a barrel-rolling crash he'll likely never forget. Petty's Pontiac was turned sideways in Turn 4 after 500 rookie Phil Barkdoll tapped “The King” in the rear bumper.

Petty's car lifted into the air, rear end first, and spun like a top as it rattled along the catch fence, sending spectators fleeing from debris.

The car – which was traveling at more than 180 mph – continued to barrel roll down through the tri-oval – discarding parts and pieces along the way.

Just as Petty's car settled on all fours, Brett Bodine – now NASCAR's pace-car driver – mashed his brakes and turned the wheel of his Ford hard-left.

“I can't do anything regular,” Petty joked to the media several days after the horrifying wreck. “I got to do things spectacular. It really looked bad.”

Petty limped away from the carnage, and while parts and pieces flew into the grandstands, no spectators were harmed.

Petty, a seven-time Daytona 500 winner and 50 at the time, said it was that last impact with Bodine that tore ligaments in his right ankle.

Drivers blamed the use of restrictor plates for the crash, saying stock cars were grouped too closely during the 500-mile event.

The plates, mandated by NASCAR, were placed between the carburetor and intake manifold to reduce airflow to the engine, cut horsepower and reduce speeds. They are still used today at Daytona and Talladega Superspeeway.

A year before Petty's crash, Elliott set Daytona's all-time, closed-course speed record of 210.364 mph in 500 qualifying.

When the series got to Talladega in 1987, Bobby Allison's Buick got in the air at over 200 mph and slammed into the catch fence. Several spectators sustained minor injuries.

It was that wreck that prompted NASCAR to slow cars down to what it considered a manageable level. The much-hyped 200-mph mark became a number NASCAR wanted to avoid.

After Petty's '88 wreck at Daytona, drivers were not pleased with the close-quarter racing created by the plates. Petty was peeved.

“The race we run this year was a lot more dangerous than any other I've been to,” the seven-time NASCAR champ said. “The bad part of the carburetors is you don't have any power, and you don't have the ability to get out of trouble.”

Dale Earnhardt, the defending Cup champ, was most vocal, offering this chilling opinion.

“It made it a damn fiasco out there,” Earnhardt said immediately after the race. “Every car out there has tires marks on it. It makes everybody race together. I'm all for safety, but that kind of racing is no fun. Somebody is going to get killed.”